Nolan Twelve Months (aka Better Late Than Never)

Nolan Ten Months

Nolan Nine Months

Nolan Eight Months

Nolan Seven Months

Nolan Six Months

Nolan Five Months

Nolan Four Months

Nolan Three Months

Nolan Two Months

Nolan One Month

Pssssst...if you're curious (like I was), you can find Caden and Brooklyn's one-month update here.

Seventeen Months

Eat.  Three meals a day (7:30 am, 1:00ish pm, 5 pm) and 2 snacks (9:30/10 am and 3 pm). Caden has gotten a bit pickier this month, and Brooklyn actually seems less picky.  They are at least more similar now in things they will or won't eat.  (Though, really, it depends on the day.)  I don't think I've mentioned this before, but they seem to really enjoy going out to eat.  They almost never squirm and fidget in their high chairs, and they like watching other people in the restaurant, too.  They are much more content sitting in a restaurant and eating-and for a longer period of time-than they ever are at home!  

Sleep.  Bedtime at 7 pm, sleep for 11-12 hours.  Nap at 11 am for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours.  Brooklyn remains a champion sleeper, while Caden had a few rough patches this month.  He will wake up inconsolable, just absolutely crying his poor little heart out, and the only thing that calms him down is sleeping in our bed.  He did this a few months ago and eventually got over it, so I'm hopeful this is just a phase again.  Nothing seems to be wrong with him...it's like he just misses Tyson and me!

Play.  This past month they have definitely been talking!  They both say "Dada", "duck" ("duh!"), and "no no".  Brooklyn also says "hi", "ball", and "uh-oh" ("uh uh uh uh oh oh oh"). They also do several animal sounds: cow ("mmmmm"), horse ("nay-nay"), sheep ("ba ba ba"), fish (*smacking lips*), butterfly (not really a sound, but they flap their arms like wings), and rooster ("doo-doo" for cock-a-doodle-doo).  They are both copying words a lot more (Brooklyn more than Caden), and have said things like "cheese", "bus", and "giraffe" (yes really!), though they wouldn't say these without being prompted.

Caden continues to push forward physically.  There is nothing he won't attempt.  He is an expert climber, (ridiculously fast up the stairs, climbs on top of the ottoman, and is thisclose to getting up on the couch by himself), and has also gotten really good at going down stairs sideways, using the railing for support.  He has his fair share of tumbles and their associated bumps, bruises, and scrapes, simply because he can't slow down or bother to watch where he is going.  Luckily, falls rarely bother him, and usually he's up and going again in no time.

Brooklyn is very social (y'know, unless I ask her to be), and loves to wave at everyone at the store or on the playground.  She also waves bye-bye to airplanes in the sky, and dogs as we see them out for a walk.  She's just so generally happy and smile-y, and loves to be around other people.  Generally Caden is the ringleader for getting into trouble (though not always!) and she picks up right away on whatever he is doing and joins in, giggling the entire time.  She gets frustrated when Caden does things that she can't yet, (i.e. climb on top of the ottoman), and while I think she's actually physically capable of pretty much anything Caden can do, she's just so darn cautious and careful that she won't do it right away!

They are both very cuddly, Caden more so, and he in particular will run over to give an unexpected hug.  Brooklyn is more affectionate with Caden than he is with her, and will often give him spontaneous hugs and kisses.  They also interact with each other more; Booklyn chases Caden around the room, arms outstretched, with a big grin saying "ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka" (tickle tickle tickle).  They both convulse in laughter when she does end up "tickling" him, though it seems the chase is half the fun.  They also like what I'll call obstacle courses, and can be found several times a day crawling under a combination of tables and chairs, in the same looped pattern, over and over and over again.

Sixteen Months

{Hug?}

{Or love tackle?}  {Both.}

Eat.  Three meals a day (7:30 am, 1:00ish pm, 5 pm) and 2 snacks (9:30/10 am and 3 pm). Caden remains a bit picky (ok, about a 1 on a pickiness scale from 1-10), Brooklyn still won't willingly touch a vegetable, but overall their eating is remarkably consistent.  Caden seems to have a time table when he eats (or for anything, really).  Once the clock hits a certain point, he is DONE.  Get me outta here!  Ten minutes might be about all this kid can sit still, even with a meal in front of him.  Brooklyn on the other hand will slowly and steadily plod her way through a meal, unconcerned that Caden has already been playing (and/or trying to steal the food off of her tray) for the past forty minutes.  She daintily eats until she's full, asking for more of certain things along the way, and doesn't care how long it takes.

Sleep.  Bedtime at 7 pm, sleep for 11-12 hours.  Nap at 11 am for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours.  This was an excellent month for sleep!  Naps were very consistent, and sleeping at night was virtually no problem.  There were a few rough evenings in a row where Caden woke up about an hour after being put down, and was difficult to get back to sleep, but that didn't even last a full week.  If they (*ahem* Caden) wakes up at night, all we have to do is make sure there is a pacifier nearby and give him a sip (or several gulps) of water, and he settles right back down.

Play.  They love water!!!  Tub, kiddie pool, real pool, whatever.  Anything they can splash and play in.  They pour water on themselves, each other, Tyson and I (yeah, hilarious, guys), and don't mind getting their faces wet.  Caden goes right ahead and puts his whole face in the water...he has no fear!

Caden has also been doing better playing by himself.  He still wants a lot of direction/attention, but will also keep himself occupied in a way that he didn't before.  He continues to be my little helper, always handing me the groceries, laundry, or toys to put away.  Don't let this sweet and helpful facade fool you, though; Caden is also my daredevil. It doesn't take much for him to dive right into something.  He'll often take off right away when we are at a park or play area, immediately exploring whatever there is to do.

Brooklyn's vocabulary, what there is of it, seems to be improving.  She's copying sounds a lot, and does a pretty good job with "up", though we have to prompt her for it when she wants to be picked up or sat on a piece of furniture.  She tries to copy a lot of sounds, and often walks around just giggling.  Brooklyn likes to observe people and situations.  Where Caden takes off, she's more content to watch.  She seems to enjoy it, too, smiling and laughing and pointing at Caden and other kids as they play.  Eventually she will join in though, and be in there goofing around with the best of 'em.

In some ways their personalities are so similar (generally in good moods, have a sense of humor, etc.), and in other ways they are still so opposite.  The things that upset them are completely different.  Caden is very patient.  He will frequently sit and try to figure something out on his own, without asking for help.  Today he sat contentedly for a long time trying to put a lid on a container, and then took it back off again.  Brooklyn tried not long after, and it wasn't two seconds of struggling with the lid before she started to get frustrated.  Caden can fall over ten times in row and not be bothered, but if Brooklyn falls just once...ooohhhh look out.  On the flip side, Brooklyn does really well with redirection. If you tell her no or even shut a door that's off-limits (i.e. the bathroom) in her face, she'll go on and find something else to do like nothing happened.  However if Caden gets told that he can't have a snack that's on the counter, or can't go someplace he wants, he immediately lets you know that he is MAD.

{practicing that releve}

{How big is Caden, you might ask.}

{The answer, of course, is SO big.}